Colorado Bans PPE Cost Deductions from Worker Wages
According to Safety+Health Magazine, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed S.B. 26-160 on June 3, prohibiting employers from deducting the cost of required PPE from worker wages. The law includes exceptions for nonspecialty steel-toe footwear and prescription safety eyewear when permitted for off-site wear, logging boots, and ordinary weather-protection clothing. Non-compliant employers face fines of up to $200 per employee per week.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Colorado-based field crews and their employers need to review payroll practices immediately, as deducting PPE costs from wages is now unlawful in the state.
- The exceptions matter: steel-toe boots and safety glasses that workers can wear off the jobsite may still be charged back, but verify your specific equipment qualifies before continuing any deductions.
- At $200 per employee per week, fines can add up fast on larger crews, making early compliance far cheaper than enforcement exposure.
